Craig O'Reilly's hat-trick gave East Fife a commanding lead over Stranraer following the first leg of their Second Division play-off at New Bayview. Graham Gibson scrambled home the Fifers' opener after 10 minutes.
O'Reilly beat two men before blasting the second after 42 minutes and slotted home after running on to a long ball three minutes later.
Another long ball put O'Reilly through after 54 minutes, but Michael Moore backheeled a reply a minute later.
Stranraer threw everything forward against the side who finished fourth in Division Three.
But East Fife finished strongly, with Lloyd Young hitting the crossbar six minutes from time.
It leaves Stranraer, who finished second bottom in Division Two, facing their second relegation in two seasons.
East Fife: Dodds, Smith, Smart, McDonald, McBride, Gibson, Young, Jablonski, Hampshire (Blackadder 76), Ritchie (Nicholas 76), O'Reilly (Gordon 89).
Subs Not Used: McGowan, Iain Ross.
Booked: Hampshire.
Goals: Gibson 10, O'Reilly 43, 45, 54.
Stranraer: Allan Ferguson, Wilson, Hamilton, Snowdon (Gibson 83), Sharp, McKinstry, Dillon, Ramsay, McAlpine (Mullen 46), Moore, McGrillen.
Subs Not Used: Janczyk, Walker, Black.
Booked: Wilson, Sharp.
Goal: Moore 55.
Att: 742
Ref: S Finnie
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East Fife 4-1 Stranraer